The bigger your dreams are, the more time and dedication you’ll need to pull the wedding together. If you imagine something with crystal chandeliers, impeccable place settings, and rows and rows of perfectly-arranged floral centerpieces, give yourself at least 10 months to get the preparations in order. Depending on what you want, even 10 months may not be enough time. But first things first – do a head count. Once you figure out how many people are coming to the wedding, you’ll be able to shop around for the perfect reception location.
This is easier said than done. Shopping around will require you to drive to dozens of prospective venue sights and share your dream with multiple people. Besides needing a location with classic appeal and positive ambience, you also want to ensure that it offers other amenities that will make your life easier such as: onsite waitstaff, catering, and possibly, wedding entertainment. The more a reception venue has to offer, the more at ease you’ll be during the wedding festivities. Otherwise, you’ll have to coordinate the event with 6 different vendors – which can be frustrating and ultimately, more expensive.
Other important things that you need to consider are the distance of the reception venue from hotels and airport. While an outdoor wedding in the rural countryside would be magnificent, if it’s an hour away from town, this can be pretty costly for out-of-town guests who have to take a taxi. In this situation, it would behoove you to hire a party bus that can transport everyone to and from the festivities. If this out of your budget, you should probably consider something closer and financially-accessible.
Make sure that you approach every reception site with a pen and paper in hand. Write down any and all questions you may have prior to visiting. Chances are, if you’re interviewing more than a few different locations, you won’t remember all the little details (which will come in handy when the time comes to make a decision). Bring along parents, and of course, the groom, so that they can help you determine the best possible place. Don’t just tour the reception hall – check out the surrounding premises, bathrooms, kitchens, and bar area. You should also try to visit at different times of day to see what the lighting is like inside as well as out.
If possible, try to attain the opinion of a few former clients of the potential reception venue. You may be able to find some online; or else, ask a manager for contact numbers of past customers. This is the best way to find out if the place is a good fit. If your request for a reference is denied, this is a good indicator that the reception hall is not up to par, and you may want to consider moving on.